The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-30
Circuit Court.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS IN CAMP.
Opening Session of the State Conference-It
Organization and Methods of Work.

The Indiana Conference of Seventh day Ad-
ventists began its sixteenth annual session yes
terday morning at o'clock, at the camp on the
State fair grounds. The composition of the con-
ference is somewhat novel, 1t Is composed of
ministers and lay delegates, who meet in COM
mon. All ordained ministers of the sect who
labor within the limits of the State consid
cred delegates at large to the conference The
others are elected by the various churches, each
organization being entitled to one member abso-
1utely, and to additional member for every
fifteen members it has. The proceedings are on
democratic basis, lay delegate having the
same share 10 the conference deliberations as
minister. Some of the delegates are women. no
distinction OF sex being made even as to the
ministry. There are half dozen or more
women preachers In the sect in the country,
though none in Indiana. The total delegates to
which the churches of the State are entitled is
102. but only thirty of them were in attendance
at roll-csll yesterday morning. After the open
ing prayer by elder d. H. Oberholtzer, the first
business transacted was the admission to the
conferences Of churches organized during the
year. Eight new ones were admitted, their re-
spective locations being Wabash. Logansport.
Boggstown. Homer, BARRIERS Mills, South Mil
ford, Terhune and Olive Branch This gave
admission TO seven more delegates, who were
present from these churches
mere was no election OF Omcers, 1t OelnG the
custom of the church to elect near the close of
the session. The present officers are: Presi-
dent Elder VIM. Covert. of Indianapolis secre-
tary. w. A Young. of Noblesville; treasurer.
DR.. VIM. Hill, of Rochester. The conference
committee is composed of the president and
Elders D. II. Oberholtzer and j. P. Henderson
This committee has charge of all matters per-
tanning to the conference during the intervals
between its sessions.
The conference has four standing committees,
two OF which were appointed yesterday. The
committee resolutions consists of Elders d.
H. Oberholtzer j. w. Covert, and j. p. Hen
derson. 1t is the duty of this committee to
formulate all business that is to come before the
conference. The auditing committee is COM
posed of six lay delegates VINO have not been in
the employ OF the conference. and consequently
have no accounts to settle The members ap-
pointed were Isaac Zirkie. John Charles, Thomas
Johnston, Charles Barley, John Murphy and
WIN. McCurdy.
On motion all brothers and sisters of good
standing from this and other conferences were
invited to aid in the deliberations of the confer
ence, though members of other conferences
have votes. The conference then adjourned
until this morning.
In connection with the use Of the title Elder"
it is explained that the sect has graduation in
ministerial order after ordination. person
may be licensed TO preach before ordination, but
after ordination the only rank is that of elder.
The deacons are merely local officers in charge
of temporal affairs. and having ministerial
functions. The sect has somewhat unusual
custom of reinaugurating its elders and licensed
preachers each year Each Of these must obtain
credentials or license at the annual conference
to entitle him to perform his Office during the
following
There were about sixty tents up yesterday,
and large number of faces about the
grounds The temporary domices had a much
more comfortable appearance than on the day
previous, and The brethren were rejoicing in the
prospect OF fair weather and good meeting